Trace-connector.



No. 653,527. Patented'lul lo |900 G. w. RAY. y

TRACE CONNECTOR.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1899.) (No Model.)

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A UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. RAY, OF LOUDONVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE RAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

TRAC E-CON NECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,527, dated. July 10, 1900.

Application filed August 12,1899. Serial No. 727,049. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, if muy concern: A

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Loudon- Ville, in the county of Ashland and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Tug or Trace Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tug or trace fasteners, the object being to provide alight, simple, neat-appearing, quicklyadjustable, strong, and durable means for attaching tu gs or traces to haines and for lengthening and shortening the tugs with ease and facility.

With the foregoing objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts,which will be more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a View in perspective. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the bar.

B represents the metal bar. This may be made of any suitable material, in such size and dimensions as desired for the style and weight of harness to be made. It is preferably oval or elliptical Yin cross-section, and it may have the two eyes or 'loops 1 and 2 cast integral at its opposite ends for the purposes to be mentionedhereinafter.v Likewise it is provided with several slots 3 and 4, arranged in pairs-a small and large one in each pairthroughout its length at suitable intervals apart, say about three or four inches. These large and small slots are separated by a comparatively-narrow cross-bar 5, flush on its outer surface with the rest of the bar and not extending to the opposite surface.

D is the tug. It is in the main of the ordinary construction, except that it has no buckle-holes, but instead is provided witha fastening device E, the latter being secured conveniently between two plies of the tug by rivets or other means. The fastening device E is in the form of a double hook, the main hook 6 of which is adapted toengage the rear en d of the larger s'lot 4 and the secondary hook 7 enters the smaller slot 3, thus making a secure fastening and at the same time one which can be readily and quickly fastened or unfastened when it is desired to shorten or lengthen the tug, but one which cannot possibly become unfastened accidentally. This is provided for by the relative size of the fastening device and the slots 4, for it will be observed that the diameter of the fastening device from the point of the rearwardly-projecting hook 6 to the nearest point on the opposite edge of the fastening device (marked as) is such that it will just clear the slot 4 when the hook is swung around in the slot with point a: as a center. To fasten the tug, the fastening device is placedV at about right angles to the bar, and it is inserted through the larger slot, the outer end or secondary hook 7 in advance. Then the tug is swung inward toward the bar with point m as a center until the main hook 6 is entirely'inside the slot, and thismotion is continued until the secondary hook enters the smaller slot 3 from the inner side. The tug is then fastened, and to unfasten it the motions are reversed, the entire adjustment being the work of a mo ment only. y

A is an outer covering of leather, which may be employed or not, as desired. When used, it is provided with a slot on the outer side as long as the longer slot 4 and a slot on the inner side as long as the two slots together, and the inner edge of the fastening device is iiush with the leather when the tug is in position. The edges of the leather forming the covering are stitched around the edges of the bar.-

The loops l and 2 are employed, respectively, for attachment to the hames and as a guide for the tug, and both are usually an integralV part of the bar B. When in position, the tug lies snugly against the bar orits covering.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there are no buckles or holes to weaken the tug and no unsightly appearances made; but the fastening is perfectly simple, neat, strong, and effectual in every way.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the sev'- eral parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and

extending hook to engage in the rear aperture and a front, forwardly and outwardly extending secondary hook of a size to approximately I 5 fill the forward aperture to prevent forward displacement and adapted to engage the crossbar to hold the attaching member from aceidental outward disengagement from the llame-tug.

GEORGE W. RAY. In presence of W. J. WEIRICK, J. J. PURCELL. 

